Biography
Tomomi Kamoshita (鴨下知美, born 1977) is a Tokyo-based ceramic and kintsugi artist whose work transforms the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery into a contemporary creative practice. Born in Tokyo, she graduated from the Joshibi University ceramics course in 2000 and has held annual exhibitions since 2007.
Kamoshita's distinctive approach involves a modernized kintsugi technique utilizing brass powder mixed with urushi (Japanese lacquer). Rather than simply repairing pre-existing ceramics, she practices yobitsugi—a creative form of kintsugi in which foreign materials such as sea glass found on beaches are incorporated into new works of art. The name yobitsugi combines yobi ("to call") and tsugi ("to connect"), reflecting the philosophy of calling disparate fragments into relationship with one another.
Her work gained international attention when she began turning ceramic shards found on beaches into functional chopstick rests using kintsugi techniques. In 2016, she exhibited in the group show "Contemporary Talents of Japan" at Ronin Gallery in New York. In 2019, she published the book KINTSUGI—Seeing Light Through the Cracks. She has taught kintsugi workshops in cities across the United States and India, and has exhibited at the International Folk Art Market.
Key Facts
- Active Period
- 1977
- Nationality
- 🇯🇵Japan
- Movement
- Contemporary Mokuhanga
- Subjects
- Seascapes
- Works Indexed
- 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Tomomi Kamoshita (鴨下知美, born 1977) is a Tokyo-based ceramic and kintsugi artist whose work transforms the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery into a contemporary creative practice. Born in Tokyo, she graduated from the Joshibi University ceramics course in 2000 and has held annual exhibitions since 2007.
Tomomi Kamoshita was active born in 1977. They were associated with the Contemporary Mokuhanga movement.
Tomomi Kamoshita's work was shaped by the Contemporary Mokuhanga tradition in Japanese woodblock printmaking. Contemporary Mokuhanga: Contemporary mokuhanga (literally "wood-block print") encompasses artists working from approximately 1970 to the present who continue or reinvent traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques.
Tomomi Kamoshita's prints frequently feature seascapes.